UK: Inmates 'run fight clubs' at maximum security jail

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » December 7th, 2005, 12:17 am

Inmates 'run fight clubs' at maximum security jail

Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Wednesday December 7, 2005
The Guardian

Gangs inside one of Britain's maximum security prisons are organising "fight clubs", usually to pay off debts, the chief inspector of prisons has revealed.

In an inspection report into Full Sutton, near York, published today, the chief inspector, Anne Owers, said the level of bullying and violence was so great that many wings were unsafe. There was evidence that gangs who had been operating on the streets continued to operate inside the jail using intimidation.

There had been an attempt to take a prison officer hostage two days before the inspectors' unannounced visit, which was only foiled because the officer had made sure the cell door could not shut. Ms Owers said security concerns had led to a ban on prisoners having access to outside sports fields and grounds - a restriction that has been extended to all eight high-security prisons in England and Wales.
Full Sutton is one of the toughest prisons in Britain. It holds nearly 600 inmates, half of whom are serving life sentences, and some of the most dangerous offenders in the country. The serial killer Dennis Nilsen, road rage killer Kenny Noye and David Bieber, the murderer of PC Ian Broadhurst, are said to be there. Sydney Noble, who was serving a life sentence for posing as a doctor to drug and rob elderly women, died in September after a beating from two other inmates in the jail.

The chief inspector said that progress had been made since her last visit in January 2003, but voiced concern that the levels of bullying and violence had increased. The emergence of evidence of fight clubs was particularly disturbing.

Ms Owers said: "Security searches of prisoners' cells revealed evidence that 'fight clubs' were being organised, usually to pay off debts. Some prisoners were being pressurised by other prisoners into fights to clear their debts. Presumably betting goes on as well."

The inspection report also says that the absence of CCTV cameras in many residential areas made the wings unsafe.

The disclosure has echoes of the 1999 Brad Pitt film Fight Club, described by its makers as "a cathartic slugfest that delivers joys of physical violence". The anarchic allegory included the tagline: "The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club."

The Prison Service was reluctant to talk about the existence of the clubs at Full Sutton last night, saying that the prison authorities had not confirmed the allegation.

Phil Wheatley, the service's director general, said: "HMP Full Sutton houses some of the country's most dangerous and violent offenders, but it has a good reputation for successfully reintegrating the most challenging individuals from segregation units into the main-wing population. We acknowledge that the anti-bullying policy at Full Sutton is in need of review, and this will take place in the next three months."

He said assaults on prisoners and staff at the prison had fallen from 38 in 2004 to 18 in 2005. But Ms Owers said there had been 55 security information reports about bullying between January and June this year, and 49 assaults had been recorded in three months in 2005.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/prisons/story ... 41,00.html

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 12:41 am

where do you keep finding this good and itneresting shit?

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » December 8th, 2005, 2:53 am

Invincible wrote:where do you keep finding this good and itneresting shit?

Ahhhhh grasshopper.....I am not to reveal my sources.

Unread post by **NW10** » December 8th, 2005, 4:46 am

Invincible just check the newspaper sites daily

SKY NEWS
TIMES & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS (ENGLAND)

just basically check the news lol, major newspapers and news channels all have webistes

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 5:18 am

I wonder if england is like us? meaning si there gangs like the ab or bgf there, or who runs it? and how hard are they compared to us gangs like if they combined inside prison which would run it?

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » December 8th, 2005, 6:02 am

NW10 wrote:Invincible just check the newspaper sites daily

SKY NEWS
TIMES & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS (ENGLAND)

just basically check the news lol, major newspapers and news channels all have webistes

Unread post by **NW10** » December 8th, 2005, 7:17 am

Invincible wrote:I wonder if england is like us? meaning si there gangs like the ab or bgf there, or who runs it? and how hard are they compared to us gangs like if they combined inside prison which would run it?

There have been gangs know to form in prison and things are becoming organised in prisons but much of what goes on is unknown to most.

Inquiry told of youth jail gang culture: http://society.guardian.co.uk/youthjust ... 98,00.html

Drug war rages in prison:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100 ... _page.html

Gang wars at jail:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100 ... _page.html

Gang culture 'infiltrated' prison:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/mers ... 182423.stm

All of the above relate to drugs gangs and prison gangs in Liverpool, NW England

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 7:39 am

so are the prison gangs different from the big street gangs? or do they both operate within and out of prison and not go to other gangs when they get parolled? cause in the us they are the same besides the italian mafia.

Unread post by **NW10** » December 8th, 2005, 3:47 pm

Invincible wrote:so are the prison gangs different from the big street gangs? or do they both operate within and out of prison and not go to other gangs when they get parolled? cause in the us they are the same besides the italian mafia.

its different in different locations. In the northwest and Liverpool, the inmates stay with "gang members" they knew on the street. EG if Doddington and Gooch members (two rival gangs in Alexandra Park, Manchester) were in prison they wouldnt work together, theyd still be rivals.

But in London (Wandsworth Prison) some gang members who are imprisoned recruit for other people to join their gang on the outside (ie Muslim Boys).

I dont really know for sure cos i havent been to prison so im only saying what people i know whove been to prison tell me.

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 4:20 pm

cool that. Let us know what u find out.

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 4:25 pm

you should go to some jails and prisons just so you could write about it, you could make some cash writing a book or being a journalist.

GTS · Unread post by **GTS** » December 8th, 2005, 4:47 pm

Invincible wrote:you should go to some jails and prisons just so you could write about it, you could make some cash writing a book or being a journalist.

Why don't you go since you have such a huge fascination with prison gangs.

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 4:50 pm

are gangs organized according to racial lines like they are in the U.S also in ENgland or just based on territory or other ways?

Invincible · Unread post by **Invincible** » December 8th, 2005, 4:51 pm

also is there any ties to hooligan gangs from criminal or prison gangs?

Unread post by **NW10** » December 8th, 2005, 7:29 pm

its not really racial lines, well asians stick together but its more about where your from your city/neighbourhood. Depends on the prison aswell, some prisons have ppl ftrom all over england whereas others serve the local populations if that makes sense.

by hooligan gangs do u mean like green street hooligan/football factory type gangs? i dont really know how they work inside? i dont kno but i can ask some of them

Unread post by TD » January 13th, 2006, 10:56 pm

YES THERE ARE PRISON GANGS IN THE U.K. ...SHANKTOWN ARE NORTHERNERS(NORTH LONDON I THINK) WHO ARE PRETTY DEEP....IVE GOT FAM WHO KNO ABOUT THESE GUYZ....